According to Ottawa Public Health, falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults in Canada!
Close to home, consider these statistics from 2015:
We all know anyone can fall.
However, as we grow older, our bodies change—and this not only increases our risk of falling but the impact that a fall may have.
Across the country, one in three older Canadians fall every year.
For many of them, that moment—a simple slip, even—can forever change their lives.
So how are falls life-changing for seniors?
Here’s one example: hip fractures are a major public health issue in Canada, with hospitals admitting about 30,000 older adults per year. And almost every single one of those fractures—95%, in fact—are due to a fall!
Meanwhile, it’s important to realize that falls can happen at any time—and any location.
It doesn’t matter if it’s winter or summer, indoors or outdoors, at home or a friend’s home.
That’s why it’s so critical to be extra-vigilant about the risks of falls as we—and our ageing parents—get older and become more susceptible to injury.
Because once an injury occurs, that can be the catalyst from independence to dependence on others.
Preventing a fall is one of the most important things you can do to stay independent as you get older.
Thankfully, there is good news: falls can be very much preventable.
And a lot of staying injury-free has to do with two things:
Making adjustments to the physical environment (e.g., whether in the bedroom, an entire house, driveway, property etc.); and
For tips on fall prevention, check out some of the links from this blog. We will also soon share a guide online with specific tips on preventing falls!
Are you a senior prone to falling at home?
Or are you an adult child, worried about your ageing parent’s overall safety and well-being?
Contact a retirement living advisor to find a retirement residence. Through our retirement living search service, we can find the perfect home for you or your loved one.
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